For divorcing and separating parents in Pennsylvania, calculating child support is a key aspect of the process. While the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS) offers a Child Support Estimator available online, PA DHS also makes clear that this tool provides an estimate only and cannot be used for determining parents’ actual child support obligations.

So, how do you calculate child support in Pennsylvania?

As with all aspects of the divorce or separation process, there are several factors involved in calculating child support in Pennsylvania. To calculate child support accurately, divorcing and separating parents should work closely with an experienced Monroe County child support attorney who can help them consider all relevant factors based on their individual circumstances.

Child Support Calculation Factors in Monroe County, PA

While every couple’s circumstances are unique, all child support calculations in Monroe County start with the same basic considerations. However, Pennsylvania’s child support law also includes provisions for additional considerations and deviations in appropriate cases.

Basic Child Support Calculation Factors

Under the Pennsylvania Child Support Guidelines, the following are the primary guiding factors in all child support determinations in Monroe County:

Monthly Net Income

The parents’ combined monthly net income is the first key factor for calculating child support in Pennsylvania. Calculating the parents’ net income starts with identifying their respective income sources, which may include:

  • Ordinary employment income (wages or salary)
  • Independent contractor income (including income from rideshare driving and other gigs)
  • Business or self-employment income
  • Rental income
  • Retirement income (including pension payments)
  • Certain types of government benefits
  • Income from other sources

These sources combine to determine the parents’ “gross income,” and then their “net income” is determined by deducting qualifying expenses such as:

  • Federal income taxes
  • State and local income taxes
  • Social Security and Medicare taxes
  • Self-employment taxes
  • Mandatory retirement contributions
  • Mandatory union dues
  • Alimony paid to the other parent

As Pennsylvania’s child support law explains, “the parents’ monthly net incomes shall be combined to determine the basic child support obligation, which shall be apportioned based on the parents’ respective monthly net incomes.” In other words, if one parent earns 75% of the parents’ combined monthly net income, then that parent would be required to cover 75% of their total child support obligation—subject to any deductions based on parenting time (see below).

Number of Children

Along with monthly net income, the other main factor for calculating parents’ “basic child support obligation” in Pennsylvania is the number of children they have from their relationship. This is evident in the Basic Child Support Schedule.  

Generally, the more children divorcing or separating parents have from their relationship, the more each of them will have to contribute to their children’s financial needs after their divorce or separation. The Basic Child Support Schedule addresses scenarios in which parents earning between $1,300 and $30,000 in monthly net income have between one and six children.

Parenting Time (Custody and Visitation)

When parents need to address child support, they will generally need to address parenting time (custody and visitation) as well. Parents’ respective post-divorce or post-separation parenting rights also play a role in determining their respective child support obligations.

After determining the basic child support obligation based on the parents’ monthly net income and number of children, parenting time is used to adjust the amount that one parent is required to pay to the other. Generally, the more time that the paying parent will spend with the couple’s children, the less the paying parent will have to pay (because this parent will be spending more money on the couple’s children directly).

Healthcare, Child Care, and Education Expenses

Certain types of healthcare, child care, and education-related expenses can also impact child support calculations in Pennsylvania. For example, the need to pay health insurance premiums, the need to pay for child care while the parents are working, and the need to cover private school tuition can all lead to increased child support obligations for both parents. If any of these will be a factor in your case, you will want to be sure to discuss these with your child support attorney.

Additional Considerations and Deviation from the Standard Guidelines

What we just discussed covers the basics of calculating child support in Monroe County in most scenarios. But, additional considerations apply in some cases, and there are various circumstances in which a deviation from the “standard” child support calculation may be warranted.  

High-Income Parents

When parents’ combined net monthly income exceeds $30,000, special rules apply. In these high-income cases, each parent’s financial responsibility is determined based on a three-step process that starts with calculating a base child support amount based on the parents’ total net income. For example:

  • One Child: $3,749 + 4.0% of combined monthly net income above $30,000.
  • Two Children: $4,981 + 4.0% of combined monthly net income above $30,000.
  • Three Children: $5,803 + 4.7% of combined monthly net income above $30,000.

Grounds for Deviation

In all cases, there are several grounds for deviation that can warrant an increased or reduced child support obligation. Some examples of these grounds include:

  • “[U]nusual needs and unusual fixed obligations.”
  • “A party’s other support obligations” related to children from a prior relationship.
  • “[T]he parties’ and the child’s standard of living.”

College Tuition and Expenses

As a final note, while child support is intended to cover most child-related expenses, it is not intended to cover college tuition and expenses. This means that parents must address these costs separately during the divorce or separation process. There are a variety of ways to do so—and, as with all other aspects of the process, the key is to make informed decisions based on the specific circumstances at hand.

Schedule a Confidential Consultation with Monroe County Child Support Attorney Gary J. Saylor, II

Do you need to know more about calculating child support in Monroe County, PA? If so, we invite you to get in touch. To schedule a confidential consultation with Monroe County child support attorney Gary J. Saylor, II, please call 570-421-5568 or contact us online today.